[crusso]

I understand your fears. Look at how lie detector (polygraph) tests are still used and how the public generally assumes that they're a reliable indication of veracity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygraph#Validity

As with many technologies, though, you can't be a Luddite and slow progress because the general population might misunderstand it.

[zacinbusiness]

My grandfather, who was chief detective for the PD in the town in which I grew up, broke my childhood heart when he explained to me how unreliable polygraph tests are. I had seen so many thriller films and detective films that relied on polygraphs, and then one day he said something to the effect of "Those are all B.S., we see guys every day that can fake their way through a lie detector and smile while he's doing it. I don't trust them and I don't trust any man who does."

[judk]

It's politically sensitive to admit, but the most-legitimate value of polygraph is in scaring people into telling the truth (which cannve verified in other ways). It has many other problems, though, like scaring innocent people into flade confessions, or scaring people into divulging their legitimately private info.